A new bill filed by State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom seeks to restore local governments’ power to initiate down-zoning for farmland preservation and floodplain mitigation in Henderson County, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 253 on Feb. 27 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Restore Down-Zoning/Farmland & Floodplain.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill restores the authority of local governments in Henderson County, N.C., to initiate down-zoning without the written consent of property owners, specifically for two purposes: farmland preservation in districts zoned for agriculture and floodplain mitigation in areas designated as special flood hazard areas by FEMA. Down-zoning is defined as actions that decrease development density, reduce the number of permitted uses, or create nonconformities in certain zoning districts. This legislation applies retroactively to Dec. 11, 2024, meaning any affected ordinances will reflect their pre-amendment state as of that date.
Balkcom proposed another 11 bills during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Balkcom graduated from Blue Ridge Community College in 2016 with an AA.
Balkcom, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 117th House district, replacing previous state representative Timothy Moffitt.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Balkcom | HB 253 | 02/27/2025 | Restore Down-Zoning/Farmland & Floodplain. |
| Jennifer Balkcom, Dudley Greene, John R. Bell, IV, and Kelly E. Hastings | HB 251 | 02/27/2025 | Various Disaster Recovery Reforms. |
| Jennifer Balkcom, John R. Bell, IV, John Sauls, and Karl E. Gillespie | HB 177 | 02/24/2025 | Reduce Barriers to State Employment. |
| Jennifer Balkcom, Brian Biggs, John R. Bell, IV, and Neal Jackson | HB 186 | 02/24/2025 | The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act. |
| Jennifer Balkcom, John R. Bell, IV, Julia C. Howard, and Ya Liu | HB 187 | 02/24/2025 | Credit Union Update. |
| Jennifer Balkcom, Carson Smith, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Sarah Stevens | HB 164 | 02/21/2025 | Parental Consent to Release Child Autopsies. |
| Jennifer Balkcom, Jeff Zenger, John R. Bell, IV, and Neal Jackson | HB 133 | 02/17/2025 | NC Farmland and Military Protection Act. |
| Jennifer Balkcom, Bill Ward, Larry W. Potts, and Ray Pickett | HB 139 | 02/17/2025 | Baby Boxes/Newborn Safety Device. |
| Jennifer Balkcom, Allen Chesser, Edward C. Goodwin, and Erin Paré | HB 94 | 02/10/2025 | Dis. Veteran Homestead Excl. Prequalification. |
| Jennifer Balkcom, Jimmy Dixon, Karl E. Gillespie, and Neal Jackson | HB 62 | 02/05/2025 | Farmers Protection Act. |
| Jennifer Balkcom, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Carson Smith, and Charles W. Miller | HB 42 | 02/03/2025 | Burglary & B&E/Sentence Enhancement. |
| Jennifer Balkcom, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Carson Smith, and Charles W. Miller | HB 28 | 01/30/2025 | Gun Violence Prevention Act. |
